Influence of Current Density and Chloride Concentration on the Electrooxidation of Ammonia and Organic Matter in Ammonia-Laden Effluents

Electrooxidation is an efficient method for treating effluents with high concentrations of ammoniacal nitrogen and organic matter (R), in the presence of chloride ions (Cl-).The present study aimed at degrading ammoniacal nitrogen and organic matter from an effluent generated at a fertilizer storage port terminal. For this purpose, a batch electrochemical reactor with mechanical agitation was used, with a Ti/RuO2 anode. The parameters studied were the current density that varied in 20, 40 and 60 mA cm-2, the concentration of chloride ions that was 0.04, 0.74, 0.90 to 0.81 mol L-1 and the electrolysis time that varied from 4.0, 5.0, 7.0 and 8.0 h. A 2² experimental design was conducted to determine the significance level of the parameters studied. The results obtained indicated the removal of 99.99% of N-NH3 and 75.60% of total organic carbon (TOC) when a current density of 60 mA cm-2 and a Cl- concentration of 35.5 g L-1 were applied, after 4.0 h of electrolysis.